The Oceans Alliance announced its routes today, and it Preserves CMA-CGM’s Halifax Call. the New Oceans Alliance is made up of CMA CGM, China Cosco Shipping, Evergreen Line, and OOCL.

The Halifax service is One of Seven Asia-East Coast North America Services, and will be known as the AWE3 service and will be routed Hong Kong-Cai Mep-Singapore-Port Kelang-Colombo-Halifax-New York-Norfolk-Savannah- Port Kelang–Port Kelang-Singapore-Jakarta-Laem Chabang-Cai Mep-LGB/LAX-Oakland- Hong Kong.

The largest containership yet to tie up in Halifax had a foggy arrival this morning. Tieing up at pier 41 just after 7am. She’s rated at 9300+ teu making her 300teu larger then the last largest ship.

The much smaller Em Kea tied up forward of Tage at pier 42. Also running for CMA CGM she is their entry on the weekly Maersk service which stops in Montreal and Halifax. Em Kea is rated at just over 3000teu

May 27 is the scheduled maiden arrival of Atlantic Sail for ACL. She is the second of the new G4 ships To arrive, in Halifax – The first Atlantic Star is now on regular rotation.

May 28 brings the CMA CGM Tage. She will be making her first call in halifax on the Columbus Loop. With a capacity of 9365 TEU She, beats the current record holder, the USAC ZAMZAM at 9036TEU, and will set the record for largest container ship to call in Halifax. Besides besting the size record by ~330TEU, she will be the first ship to call here with the island superstructure set forward of amidships. The largest classes of container ships are built this way to ensure visibility forward over the deck load of containers.

Several Pieces of News have occurred recently with Container lines. How they will affect Halifax is yet to be seen.

CMA-CGM purchased APL, and announced APL’s withdrawal form the G6 Alliance in 2017. G6 Currently calls in Halifax, with APL vessels in the Rotation. CMA-CGM also Calls as part of the Oceans 3 Alliance.

Hapag Lloyd and UASC are in Merger talks. Hapag Llyod has been a long Caller in Halifax and is a member of the G6 Alliance. UASC are members of the Oceans 3 Alliance with CMA-CGM

G6 has announced a new service, from Asia to the US East Coast via the new expanded Panama Canal.

Saturday was the first workday of the new year, and a busy day at Pier 41/42 ZIM Savannah spent the Day at 41, with Maersk Penang tieing up just after 7am. When she sailed, around 2pm, Her spot was Taken by CMA-CGM Bianca who worked well into the night. (Bottom: CMA-CGM Bianca backing into pier 42. (Provided Photo))

Fairview Cove was also busy, with Allise P and Rio Blackwater Occupying the East and West Births Respectively.

Due today is the HH Emilia – On arrival, she is set to discharge all her containers due to engine troubles. presumably this will be picked up by the next Maersk vessel.

The ship is part of the Vespucci Service, Asia and the US East Coast via Panama. The port rotation is Qindao – Ningbo – Shanghai -(Panama)- Cartagena – Savannah – Charleston – Norfolk – New York – Norfolk – Charleston – Savannah – Qingdao, so the ship came north to offload.

This is the second time a CMA-CGM Ship has failed in Halifax – The Stadt Cadiz spent time at Pier 9B in May sorting out engine troubles. She also unloaded all her cans.

If the Ship looks Familer, she is the Ex Dresden Express – sold by Hapag Llyod earlier this year. – Hapag-Llyod is disposing of her class – either selling or scrapping the vessels.

Correction: I Originally posted that the ship was filling CMA-CGM’s slot on the weekly Maersk Service. this was incorrect, as now noted above.

CMA-CGM, the french shipping line, this week purchased NOL, also known as the Neptune Orient Line. NOL are the owners of APL ( aka American President Lines). Both Companies Currently Call in Halifax – APL as part of the G6 Alliance, and CMA-CGM as Part of the Ocean Three (or O3) alliance.

It has been stated that on completion of the transaction, APL will pull out of the G6 Alliance, and Join O3 – this likely means their ships will continue to call in Halifax, Just for the Weekly CMA-CGM Call.

The G6 Alliance will also likely still call, though another line will need to provide vessels to replace the APL Ships. The O3 Alliance is currently CMA-CGM, China Shipping and the United Arab Shipping Co. The Current G6 Alliance members include American President Lines, Hapag Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mitsui (MOL), Nippon (NYK) and OOCL. the Halifax Legs are currently staffed by ships from OOCL, NYK, Happag-lloyd and APL.